If Culberston’s latest release doesn’t get you grooving, seek medical attention immediately! The acclaimed multi-instrumentalist, composer, and producer serves up an R&B-flavored, starstudded affair that features guest appearances by musical luminaries like Kenny Lattimore, Faith Evans, and Brian McKnight. Check out Culbertson’s cascading keyboard work on the infectious track “Don’t U Know Me by Now” for just a taste of the album’s sonic treats. (Verve | brianculbertson.com)

Don’t let her age fool you — jazz pianist and singer Champian Fulton is still in her early 20s, but she sings and swings with the authority of a seasoned pro. On her latest Venus release Sometimes I’m Happy, the Oklahoma-born, New York City-based double threat dishes up a tasty serving of gutsy, grooving trad jazz. From her tasty block chord solo and proud vocal prancing on the album’s opener “When Your Lover Has Gone,” to her spirited take on the venerable ballad “Darn That Dream,” Fulton (nimbly backed by bassist Neal Miner and drummer Fukushi Tainaka) finds her own way through even the most familiar of material. More than just another singerpianist on the retro scene, Champian Fulton is an artist to keep an eye and ear on. Jon Regen (Venus Records, champian.net )

Charlie Wood’s latest release Flutter and Wow is a rollicking, keyboardinfused prayer meeting. The Memphis-born and now London-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist comes into his own on this gutsy, grooving album, produced by Norah Jones alum Adam Levy. With a song list culled from the catalogues of some of today’s greatest songsmiths (Paul Simon, Elvis Costello, and Tom Waits, to name a few), Wood heaps a healthy dose of piano, B-3, and Wurlitzer alongside his soulful vocals. He even contributes more than a few impressive originals to the mix. On Simon’s “American Tune,” Wood works the Hammond organ like a church pew pro, pulling pulpit-like chords from its double manuals. And on his own “Doin’ the Blah Blah Blah,” his piano takes us to Mardi Gras for a rocking, rolling good time. Definitely worth the price of admission. (Archer Records, charliewood.us )

MATT BECK ANYTHING WHICH GIVES YOU PLEASURE Esteemed sideman and musical director Matt Beck steps out as a leader with Anything Which Gives You Pleasure, a 12-song strut through Beck’s manic, musical mind. Recorded almost entirely in hotel rooms while Beck was on tour with Rod Stewart, the album is an impressive romp across a wide sonic canvas. From the soaring, Beach Boysinspired a capella harmonies on “Prelude” to the loping groove and Wurlitzer stabs on “Nothing Ever Comes of It,” Matt shines on vocals, guitar, and assorted keys. A decade and a half of solid side work has clearly rubbed off on him, with each of the tunes telling its own singular story. Proof positive that sidemen are more than their day jobs, AWGYP is an impressive debut by a talented artist who’s just getting started. (Mattunes, myspace.com/mattbecktwenty )